COVELLITE Meaning and
Definition
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Covellite is a noun that refers to a rare and valuable copper sulfide mineral. It is known for its characteristic deep blue to indigo color, which makes it visually distinct and highly sought after in the world of gemstones and mineral collecting.
The name "covellite" is derived from the Latin word "covellum," which means "little hollow" or "cavity," due to its occurrence in veins and pockets within rocks. It was first discovered in 1832 in Italy by Niccolo Covelli, an Italian mineralogist, and was subsequently named after him.
Chemically, covellite is composed of copper, sulfur, and sometimes trace amounts of other elements such as iron and selenium. Its chemical formula is CuS, indicating one atom of copper bonded with one atom of sulfur. Its crystal structure is orthorhombic, resulting in distinct tabular or prismatic crystals.
Covellite has a relatively high hardness of 1.5 to 2.5 on the Mohs scale, making it fairly durable and suitable for various jewelry applications. It has a metallic luster when freshly exposed, but typically tarnishes to a deep purple or iridescent blue upon prolonged exposure to air.
A key characteristic of covellite is its strong pleochroism, which means its color varies depending on the viewing angle. This property adds visual interest and dimension to covellite gemstones. Due to its scarcity and remarkable color, covellite is highly valued by collectors and enthusiasts of rare minerals and gemstones.
Common Misspellings for COVELLITE
- Covallite
- xovellite
- vovellite
- fovellite
- dovellite
- civellite
- ckvellite
- clvellite
- cpvellite
- c0vellite
- c9vellite
- cocellite
- cogellite
- cofellite
- covwllite
- covsllite
- covdllite
- covrllite
- cov4llite
- cov3llite
Etymology of COVELLITE
The word "Covellite" is derived from the name of the Italian mineralogist, Niccolo Covelli. He discovered this copper sulfide mineral in 1832, and it was named in his honor.
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